Please see the Couple6 manual for complete details.
Opening Couple6
Turn on the T-1290 Target and double-click the Couple6 icon on the desktop to open the program. Couple6 will automatically connect to the target and display the serial number on the task bar.
Starting an Alignment Project
Click the Project Manager: Load/Create Manager button on the Home Screen. Tap Create New Machine and Start Project button. Enter the project filename and machine information and hit OK to return to the Main Menu.
Step 1: Dimensions and Tolerances
Mount the brackets on both shafts.
From the Main Menu, tap Step 1: Dimensions and Tolerances.
- Select Coupling type.
- Select Alignment type.
- Enter motor dimensions as shown in the graphic to an accuracy of .13 to .25″ (3-6 mm).
- Select motor RPM to set the tolerance.
- Optional: Go to Thermal Growth screen to enter TG offsets.
Step 2: Mounting the Target and Laser
Ensure the dust cap/alignment tool is attached to the target. Slide the laser and target over their bracket posts until the laser beams are centered vertically and horizontally in the dust-cap holes. Tighten the thumb screws as tight as you can with your fingers. Remove the dust cap.
Step 2: Laser Setup
Initial Alignment, Adjust Target and Laser
To maximize the measuring range of the target, the V-center value needs to be ± .040″ (1 mm) of zero. Red arrow means the laser is out of center, and you should move the target in that direction. Green or Yellow arrow means you are in the center zone. Note due to large measuring range of target, you can still use the system even if the arrow is red. Click Next to go to Step 3.
Step 3: Soft Foot Check
Soft Foot is a condition where the four feet of the motor are not parallel to the machine base. What usually happens when a motor has soft foot is that the motor appears to be aligned in Step 5, but when the data is re-taken, the motor is still misaligned. This continues until the soft foot is detected and corrected.
The Soft Foot Check is strongly recommended, but is optional. To skip it, tap Next. Follow the step-by-step screen instructions to check for soft foot and calculate recommended shims to fix it. Before proceeding to Step 4, ensure that all bolts are tightened.
Step 4: Take Data (AutoSweep™)
To record alignment data in Auto Sweep™ Mode, rotate the laser and target together (must be coupled) to sweep an arc of data. Start or stop at any clock location as long as there is a minimum 60-degree sweep. Accuracy can be affected if a sweep of less than a 360° is taken, although the decline in accuracy does not become significant until the sweep arc is close to 90°.
When the shafts stop rotating, Couple6 automatically calculates the results. If there is a lot of vibration, you can also click Done to calculate results. If the data looks good, press Accept. Tap Results to view the results against tolerance from Step 1. If out of tolerance, press the Shim button to correct. Please see the Couple6 Manual for detailed descriptions and directions for taking data in each mode.
If using the S-680, we recommend leaving the laser/target at 12:00 when finished rotating, although this is not required. If the laser/target are left at any other location, Couple6 automatically rectifies the readings in Step 5 so that it appears that the laser/target are at 12:00.
Step 5: Move and Shim
Add shims as instructed on the screen. To perform moves, rotate the shafts to 3:00 or 9:00 and Step 5 will automatically show the H-Axis Live Display. Move the motor in the direction of the arrows. When the alignment value displays turn Yellow, the results are acceptable; when Green, the results are excellent. Click Remeasure to go back to Step 4 and retake data to verify the alignment is in tolerance. Please see the Couple6 manual for further details and options for this step.
Step 6: Printing a Report
Click the HOME icon to go to the Home Screen.
To print a report in Couple6, click the Alignment Report and Data Export to access the Report Configuration popup window.
Report Options: Select which parts of the report to include: Soft Foot, Thermal Growth, and/or History. These sections of the report will not print unless the box is checked. Tap Edit Header, Edit Project Note or Sign Report to modify the report.
Printer Settings
Click to select the printer, page size and other printer settings.
Save Hard Copy to REPORTS Folder
The report is automatically saved as either an .xps file (MS XPS Document Printer format to open report in Explorer to view and print) or in .pdf format for use with Adobe Acrobat. The file is saved in the Report Folder in My Documents/Couple6 and can be emailed or transferred electronically to users who do not have Couple6 to view the report.
To use Auto Clock™, rotate laser/target to a clock position until a blue arrow appears. Tap Record. Repeat for at least two more points over 90 degrees (180 degrees is preferable). Recording 5-8 points is optimal.
Click Check for Couple6 Updates in the Help Menu and Couple6 automatically checks for updates. If an update is found, you are prompted to download it. Click Yes to download the update and follow the on-screen instructions to install the new version.
Connect the target to the computer with the USB cable.
icon in the task bar as shown below, just before the word CONNECTED.
The Update dialog box displays. The target can be updated using one of two methods:
Once the DONE message displays, click Yes to close the Update Dialog and return to the main application or No to remain in the Firmware Update Dialog. When a firmware update is successful, all update steps are marked with green checkmarks. The most critical steps are the first 3 in the Firmware Update Progress section. Failed steps are indicated with a red “X”. If any of the first three steps fail, DO NOT UNPLUG THE TARGET! Try running the update again. The 4th and 5th steps restore the target to running mode (Application Mode). Failure of these steps is not critical, as they occur after the update is completed and verified. However, do not disconnect the target until all steps have completed.
